EP0901593B1 - Tube connector for connecting tubes intended for installing cables therein - Google Patents

Tube connector for connecting tubes intended for installing cables therein Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0901593B1
EP0901593B1 EP97924383A EP97924383A EP0901593B1 EP 0901593 B1 EP0901593 B1 EP 0901593B1 EP 97924383 A EP97924383 A EP 97924383A EP 97924383 A EP97924383 A EP 97924383A EP 0901593 B1 EP0901593 B1 EP 0901593B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tube
coupled
connector
connectors
tubes
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97924383A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0901593A1 (en
Inventor
Willem Griffioen
Henk Nijstad
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV
Koninklijke KPN NV
Original Assignee
Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV
Koninklijke KPN NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV, Koninklijke KPN NV filed Critical Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV
Publication of EP0901593A1 publication Critical patent/EP0901593A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0901593B1 publication Critical patent/EP0901593B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G1/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
    • H02G1/06—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle
    • H02G1/08—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling
    • H02G1/086—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle through tubing or conduit, e.g. rod or draw wire for pushing or pulling using fluid as pulling means, e.g. liquid, pressurised gas or suction means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
    • F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
    • F16L37/084—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking
    • F16L37/092—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking by means of elements wedged between the pipe and the frusto-conical surface of the body of the connector
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/46—Processes or apparatus adapted for installing or repairing optical fibres or optical cables
    • G02B6/50—Underground or underwater installation; Installation through tubing, conduits or ducts
    • G02B6/52—Underground or underwater installation; Installation through tubing, conduits or ducts using fluid, e.g. air
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/57—Distinct end coupler
    • Y10T403/5733—Plural opposed sockets

Definitions

  • This invention relates a tube line comprising of a number of tube sections (l 1 , l 2 , l n , l n+1 ) which are coupled by means of a number of connectors (k 1 , k 2 , ... k n ), each connector comprising an elongate hollow body (1) with an opening at both ends, the ends of each of a pair of adjacent, coupled tube sections being received in one of said openings.
  • a drawback of the known connector is that it is rather costly and that it has a rather large external diameter relative to the external diameter of the tubes to be connected. This can be objectionable if in a small space, for instance when installing several tube sections in a larger surrounding duct, many couplings are to be arranged in one place and also when coupled tubes are to be manipulated, in particular when this is to be done in a limited space, because then an unduly large connector can get stuck.
  • a problem in installing glass fiber cables and fiber bundles is, generally, that due to the non-linear pressure gradient prevailing in the tube the blowing force that is exerted on the cable or bundle in the initial portion of the tube is smaller by about a factor of 2 than if the pressure gradient were linear. As a consequence, the length of cable that can be installed is reduced by about a factor of two.
  • this problem can be solved by exerting supplemental pushing forces on the cable, as has been described in EP-A-0.292.037. In the case of flexible fiber bundles, however, this is not possible because these exhibit a phenomenon known by the name of "buckling".
  • the object of the invention is to provide a tube line with tube connectors which do not have the drawbacks of the known connectors, that is, tube connectors which are cheap and small, and which further offer the possibility of at least partly compensating the non-linearity of the pressure gradient.
  • each tube connector comprises means for providing a passage for air from the interior of at least one of the tubes to the surroundings.
  • the invention is based on the surprising insight that a tube line, comprising a number of tube sections that are coupled by means of cheap connectors of small dimensions, which connectors, owing to the absence of O-rings, the allowability of greater tolerances, etc., do not connect the tube sections to be connected together in a completely airtight manner, can at least partly compensate the nonlinearity of the pressure gradient precisely by virtue of the presence of air leakage.
  • the air passage can consist of an air gap between the receiving opening of the connector and the external diameter of the tube to be received therein, but can also be purposely provided in the central portion of the connector where the two tube sections meet. In principle, it is sufficient for the air passage to be operative when the tube line is under pressure.
  • an apparatus for blowing an optical fiber into a tube.
  • the known apparatus consists of an elongate tube to which on one side the tube is coupled in which the fiber will be installed and to which on the other side a hypodermic tube is coupled via which the fiber is inserted into the apparatus.
  • the apparatus further comprises a side connection, located upstream of the end of the hypodermic tube located in the elongate tube, for the purpose of connecting a source of compressed air, and side connections located downstream of that end, for the purpose of discharging a controllable amount of the compressed air.
  • the fiber is sucked from the hypodermic tube by means of a venturi effect and the lateral discharges are set in such a manner that this effect is obtained. Accordingly, this apparatus does not involve the tube connector in the sense of the present application and also the object of the lateral discharges is an entirely different one.
  • Fig. 1 shows a tube connector according to the invention with an elongate, hollow, preferably cylindrical body 1 having on one side an opening for receiving the end of a tube section 2 with an outside diameter D 2 and on the other side an opening for receiving the end of a tube section 3 with an outside diameter D 3 .
  • the diameters D 2 and D 3 can, but need not, be equal to each other.
  • Provided on the inside wall of the cylindrical body 1 are for instance metal barb-shaped projections 4 which in a manner known per se prevent a tube end from sliding back after it has been introduced into the connector body 1.
  • an annular ridge 5 Arranged centrally in the body is an annular ridge 5 which on either side thereof forms a stop for the ends of the tubes 2 and 3.
  • the connector according to Fig. 1 can be manufactured at a very low cost price and, owing to the small outside diameter thereof, enables compact bundling of coupled tubes or manipulation of a coupled tube in a narrow space. If it should happen that a coupling has to be undone, it can be simply cut loose and be replaced with a new coupling.
  • an air passage opening 6 is formed in the annular ridge 5, which opening forms a connection between the interior of the tubes 2 and 3 and the surroundings. The purpose of this opening will be explained with reference to Figs. 2 and 3.
  • valve in the passage 6, or to arrange a flexible sleeve over or a flexible lip on the transition between the tube end and the connector.
  • the valve, sleeve or lip closes off the passage or the transition hermetically at a normal pressure and provides a passage for "leaking" air at excess pressure.
  • Fig. 2 schematically shows a number of tube sections l 1 , l 2 ... l n , l n+1 which are successively coupled to each other by means of n tube connectors, which connectors are designated by k 1 , k 2 ... k n .
  • a pressure p 0 At the inlet opening of tube section l 1 prevails a pressure p 0 , which is generated by means of a compressor.
  • a pressure p n+1 prevails a pressure p n+1 which is equal to the atmospheric pressure p a .
  • At the location of each coupling prevails a respective pressure p 1 , p 2 ... p n .
  • the tube connectors k are of a conventional type, for instance of the type described in EP-A-0.349.344, which provides an airtight seal between the tube sections, the course of the pressure as a function of the position x in a tube of a length L is as shown in graph 1 of Fig. 3. It shows that the absolute value of the pressure gradient in the initial portion of the tube line is less than it is towards the end, which is disadvantageous in respect of the maximum achievable installation length.
  • graph 2 shows the course of the pressure in the case where tube connectors according to the invention of the type shown in Fig. 1 are arranged in the tube line according to Fig. 2. It appears that if the passage 6 is properly dimensioned, a virtually linear pressure gradient can be obtained with the connectors.
  • graph 2 shows the course of the air pressure with optimum linearity and graph 3 shows the course of the air pressure in the case where the air passages 6 have the maximum allowable magnitude.
  • the optimum magnitude of the diameter of the air passage 6 can be calculated on the basis of Fig. 2, as follows:
  • D is the inside diameter of a tube section l
  • ⁇ v is the (atmospheric) volume flow
  • ⁇ is the dynamic viscosity (1.8x10 -5 Pa for air)
  • ⁇ is the density (1.3 kg/m 3 for air) of the flowing medium.
  • the air flow through a leak is mostly non-turbulent.
  • l is the average length of a tube section.
  • the radius corresponding to the opening with the maximum allowable size is about 30% higher.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
  • Electric Cable Installation (AREA)
  • Laying Of Electric Cables Or Lines Outside (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
  • Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
EP97924383A 1996-05-31 1997-06-02 Tube connector for connecting tubes intended for installing cables therein Expired - Lifetime EP0901593B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1003249A NL1003249C2 (nl) 1996-05-31 1996-05-31 Buisconnector voor het verbinden van voor het daarin installeren van kabels bestemde buizen.
NL1003249 1996-05-31
PCT/NL1997/000309 WO1997045668A1 (en) 1996-05-31 1997-06-02 Tube connector for connecting tubes intended for installing cables therein

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0901593A1 EP0901593A1 (en) 1999-03-17
EP0901593B1 true EP0901593B1 (en) 2001-02-21

Family

ID=19762951

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97924383A Expired - Lifetime EP0901593B1 (en) 1996-05-31 1997-06-02 Tube connector for connecting tubes intended for installing cables therein

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US6024387A (da)
EP (1) EP0901593B1 (da)
AT (1) ATE199277T1 (da)
DE (1) DE69704116T2 (da)
DK (1) DK0901593T3 (da)
ES (1) ES2156384T3 (da)
GR (1) GR3035894T3 (da)
NL (1) NL1003249C2 (da)
PT (1) PT901593E (da)
WO (1) WO1997045668A1 (da)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6354331B1 (en) 1999-11-08 2002-03-12 Parker-Hannifin Corp. Flexible plastic tubing construction having a sight glass window
US6848541B2 (en) 2002-07-11 2005-02-01 Nkf Kabel B.V. Optical cable installation with cable lubricator
US7992685B2 (en) * 2002-07-11 2011-08-09 Draka Comteq B.V. Optical cable lubricator with reservoir
UA97416C2 (ru) * 2007-10-03 2012-02-10 Сен-Гобен Гласс Франс Соединитель для соединения двух полых профильных концов

Family Cites Families (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2649105A (en) * 1953-08-18 Self-draining pipe joint
DE205301C (da) *
GB189519854A (en) * 1895-10-22 1895-11-23 James Wills Improvements in Pipe Joints or Couplings.
US1145679A (en) * 1911-03-02 1915-07-06 Harry P Wallace Waste and revent fitting.
US1059560A (en) * 1911-11-15 1913-04-22 Clarence L Parker Pump-rod coupling.
US1671979A (en) * 1925-11-27 1928-06-05 William E Cook Wire splice
GB318751A (en) * 1928-09-17 1929-09-12 Reginald Harvey Hellyer Improvements in or relating to pipe joints
US1822056A (en) * 1929-02-07 1931-09-08 Gillette Vibber Company Inc Threadless pipe connecter
US1970673A (en) * 1930-04-08 1934-08-21 Detachable Bit Corp Of America Drill
US2158757A (en) * 1938-07-11 1939-05-16 William J Katzberg Coupling
US2523716A (en) * 1946-11-18 1950-09-26 Edward L Parr Hydraulic coupling
US2530700A (en) * 1947-11-03 1950-11-21 Joints Inc Pressure pipe joint
US2679414A (en) * 1949-02-01 1954-05-25 Ingersoll Rand Co Separator for shafts
DE1750710B1 (de) * 1968-05-28 1971-09-23 Fouquet Werk Frauz & Planck Rohrkupplung
US3995897A (en) * 1975-04-21 1976-12-07 Eaton Corporation Coupling
US4073514A (en) * 1976-05-26 1978-02-14 Indian Head Inc. Combination pipe fitting and retainer ring
US4346923A (en) * 1979-08-23 1982-08-31 Vaponics Inc. Apparatus for joining tubing
EP0108590B1 (en) * 1982-11-08 1986-11-26 BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS public limited company Optical fibre transmission lines
GB8408156D0 (en) * 1984-03-29 1984-05-10 Bicc Plc Manufacture of optical cable
US4640576A (en) * 1984-06-26 1987-02-03 Canada Wire And Cable Limited Method and apparatus for tubing optical fibers
FR2573165B1 (fr) * 1984-10-19 1988-05-20 Levenez Yves Raccords commutateurs rotatifs.
GB8706803D0 (en) * 1987-03-23 1987-04-29 British Telecomm Optical fibre installation
NL193126B (nl) * 1987-04-28 1998-07-01 Nederland Ptt Werkwijze en inrichting voor het aanbrengen van een kabel in een kabelgeleidingsbuis.
US5065928A (en) * 1987-11-25 1991-11-19 Bicc Plc. Method and apparatus for blowing an optical fibre member
DE3844421A1 (de) * 1988-03-17 1989-09-28 Max Pasbrig Loesbare verbindungsvorrichtung fuer rohre, schlaeuche, stangen o.dgl.
GB8815741D0 (en) * 1988-07-01 1988-08-10 Bicc Plc Connecting device
FR2672371B1 (fr) * 1991-02-04 1993-07-16 Pont A Mousson Manchon composite, procede pour sa mise en óoeuvre, et joint d'etancheite en comportant application.
CH682691A5 (de) * 1991-04-16 1993-10-29 Christoph Morach Rohrmuffe für Kabelrohre.
FR2710789B1 (fr) * 1993-09-27 1995-12-22 Alain Pecot Vanne pour la régénération du débit d'air d'entraînement d'un câble de télécommunications dans une conduite enterrée.
US5588685A (en) * 1995-07-06 1996-12-31 Ameron International Corporation Push-pull pipe joint
US5647681A (en) * 1996-06-18 1997-07-15 Chen; Chi-Fu Stairs rail connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0901593A1 (en) 1999-03-17
PT901593E (pt) 2001-05-31
US6024387A (en) 2000-02-15
ATE199277T1 (de) 2001-03-15
DK0901593T3 (da) 2001-06-05
ES2156384T3 (es) 2001-06-16
DE69704116T2 (de) 2001-09-27
GR3035894T3 (en) 2001-08-31
DE69704116D1 (de) 2001-03-29
WO1997045668A1 (en) 1997-12-04
NL1003249C2 (nl) 1997-12-03

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